Discover the magic of night golf: A first-hand experience under the lights

I can remember my first-time playing night golf back in September 2018 in the Middle East. I had come across night golf plenty of times in passing conversation with friends that had played golf in Turkey but had only ever seen this a few times on social media.

I was fortunate enough to be in Oman on business, and we had time to squeeze in one round of golf that happened to be booked to my surprise at 7pm. After querying my contact on the ground, he confirmed that we’d be playing night golf and as soon as I’d spent a few days in Oman I understood why this was ideal. The heat and humidity at that time of year meant you could somewhat escape it at night by playing late into the evening.

As we turned up to the golf course (Ras Al Hamra) the sun was just beginning to set and as we teed off, you’re in this bizarre period where the lights aren’t fully powered up and full darkness hasn’t set in but a few holes in the full experience was underway, and it lived up to everything I had imagined!

I’ve been lucky enough to play some of the world’s best courses, but my first round of night golf is truly one I’ll never forget. It’s a kind of sensory overload experience with the course laid out so clearly under the lights with every single undulation on show a completely new picture of a golf course… then we get onto the ball flights!

There is no hiding a bad shot in night golf with all ball flights on show. But a positive side of this is if you hit your Sunday best, it looks fantastic in front of all your friends and particularly on camera. Perfect for bragging on social media!

• Time on holiday – Sometimes golf can take up a huge chunk of the day where you might want to be enjoying a cold beverage round the pool or on the beach. Night golf means you have the whole day to enjoy relaxing followed by a round of golf into the evening.
• Conditions – As I said above, in places like the middle east it can be too hot to play golf during the day in certain months so this allows people to still enjoy the game late into the night.
• A new experience – Just like TopGolf at night which has clearly introduced new people to the game, so can night golf on a full length course! This is a new form of experiencing the game will potentially spark the interest for people to pick up a golf club.

More recently, night golf has hugely grown in popularity due to social media exposing it for how fun it really is, and some of the world’s largest golf content creators and tour players utilising it.

Some examples to look out for:

• ‘Good Good’ recently hosting the first ever live stream content creator scramble on a night golf course called ‘Grass Clippings Rolling Hills’ in Arizona.
• Tiger, Rory, Justin Thomas and Jordan Speith all showcasing one of the exhibition matches know as ‘The Match under the lights’ at ‘Pelican Golf Club’ in the US
• Content creator Rick Shiels shooting plenty of his famous content like break 75 and various matches on courses like Yas Links in Abu Dhabi.

Google recently highlighted that the term ‘night golf course near me’ is up 60% year on year so you can tell this social media buzz is certainly having an impact!

Since my round of night golf in Oman in 2018 I’ve made sure I’ve played night golf as much as possible all over the globe.

Check out some of the top night golf destinations below

As mentioned previously, night golf in the UAE is rife as it allows golfers to truly make the most of the fantastic courses available during hotter periods of the year.

Nowhere in the world can you find a selection of night golf quite like Dubai. The ‘City of Gold’ is a golf holiday makers dream with first-class hotels, beaches, water parks, and most importantly, golf courses of great quality and variety.

Add to your Dubai golf holiday experience and take on some of the best golf courses in the world under the lights, with a cooler breeze in your back. Here are some of the top floodlit golf clubs in Dubai:

• Emirates Golf Club
• Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
• Trump International Golf Club
• Dubai Hills Golf Club

In Abu Dhabi, Yas Acres Golf & Country Club is the perfect night golf location. This floodlit, par-36 nine holer is fun for all the family with large bunkers and ple nty of water to contend with.

Just down the road sits Yas Links, which is often ranked as one of the best courses in the UAE. But while you can’t play night golf on the famous Abu Dhabi HSBC host course, the club also offers a delightful 9-hole, par 3 academy course. This is a great way to enjoy an evening in the Middle East.

Check out our YouTube channel and Middle East golf experience here.

Night golf in Turkey, or more specifically in Belek, offers a unique and enchanting experience that attracts golf enthusiasts from all around the globe.

Golfers visiting this idyllic part of the world have the option of playing night golf at two world-renowned European Tour venues in Carya Golf Club and Montgomerie Maxx Royal.

Carya Golf Course stands out as Europe's first floodlit golf course, allowing players to enjoy the game until late in the evening. Designed by Peter Thomson, Carya is inspired by traditional British heathland courses, weaving through a stunning pine and eucalyptus forest, with undulating sand hills that challenge and intrigue golfers of all levels.

Montgomerie Maxx Royal offers a different but equally captivating night golf experience. Designed by the legendary golfer Colin Montgomerie, this course is a masterpiece that blends seamlessly with the natural environment showcasing wide fairways, challenging bunkers, and immaculate greens.

Check out our YouTube channel and night golf on the Carya course here.

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing golf destinations in the world thanks to its modern golf course design, beautiful landscape, and the opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in night golf.

To the north of Vietnam, nearby the capital city of Hanoi, sits BRG Kings Island Golf Resort. The venue is renowned for its lakeside beauty and meticulously maintained courses. Playing golf here at night is an unforgettable experience, as the cool evening air complements the peaceful ambiance of the resort, allowing players to enjoy their game in a tranquil environment.

Further south in the golf populous region of Da Nang is Ba Na Hills Golf Club, Luke Donald’s first design as an architect. This beautiful layout offers a scenic mountain setting with natural topography and two very distinctive nine holes. It’s a superb course and playing under the floodlights in the cherry on the cake!

The final night golf option in Vietnam sits outside of Ho Chi Minh City. This Lee Trevino design is a great layout and even hosted the Vietnam Hana Bank Masters in 2008. Enjoy night golf in all its glory as you take on generous fairways, well positioned bunkers, water hazards, and undulating Bermuda grass.

If you get the chance to play night golf don’t turn it down or better still, get in touch with Golfbreaks today and book your experience playing golf under the lights… trust me, you won’t regret it!